Re: EAS

[brouder@juno.com (Ed Brouder)]

As of December 31st, cable TV systems with more than 10,000 subscribers
had to join EAS for the first time.  Smaller systems will come on line on
a graduated schedule between now and 2002.  There will be a long
shakedown period while bugs are worked out, just as there were when radio
moved from EBS to EAS.  Depending on Gary's MediaOne system (Lowell is
probably more than 10,000 subscribers), that's why he saw it today.  The
lady caught unawares at HQ should have been better informed by her
engineering staff.

I'm guessing Massachusetts ran a Required Monthly Test via WBMX; it could
be for signal reliability that WBZ's test ran on MediaOne.  It depends on
what the Mass State Plan requires MediaOne to monitor.  As Dan Billings 
pointed out, tests can be set to over-ride programming or be fired
manually depending on a station's degree of automation and/or interest.

NH's RMT happened January 4th without incident.  Cable viewers are going
to be surprised as their HBO movies or pay-per-view fights are
interrupted by Winter Storm Warnings and monthly tests.  Cable systems do
NOT need to relay weekly tests received from their monitored stations.

Ed (Brouder@Juno.com)
Chairman, NH State Emergency Communications Committee
Man From Mars Productions
http://www.manfrommars.com

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